The Ontario government is expanding the current workplace inspection campaign to further protect workers and customers at essential businesses. Following the mid-January big-box store blitz, provincial offenses officers will now be visiting an expanded range of workplaces across Ontario to educate and ticket businesses that are not complying with COVID-19 health and safety requirements. 

More than 300 officers will be supporting these blitzes, and will be visiting a variety of workplaces that are allowed to be open during the provincial shutdown such as: 

-  Retail establishments, including big-box stores 

-  Restaurants providing take-out meals 

-  Essential service-sector establishments (such as gas stations)

-  Farming operations 

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services have been working with the Ontario Ministry of Labour to deliver a webinar detailing the new 2021 TFAW initiative. Growers employing temporary foreign workers are encouraged to tune into this webinar on February 3 from 10-11:30am, which will include helpful information and details about potential inspections. Registration page is open now: https://www.meetview.com/wsps20210203/

Also, here are links to posters that employers can use to remind workers of COVID requirements during lunchtime and breaks. These resources are available in Spanish and Thai:

Spanish

-  Your break is not a break from COVID safety

-  Keep it to yourself during COVID

-  COVID should not be on the menu at lunch

Thai

-  Your break is not a break from COVID safety

-   Keep it to yourself during COVID

-   COVID should not be on the menu at lunch

 Source:  Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association